Real Madrid History and Current Players

OG: http://news-realmadrid-football.blogspot.com/2010/12/legends-ricardo-zamora.html

Legends: Ricardo Zamora
RICARDO ZAMORA


Ricardo Zamora

Ricardo Zamora Martínez, was known as "Divine." An adjective that describes the effect that Zamora produced on the fans and rivals. Its passage by the Spanish football left a deep imprint. Its always perfect position covering the goal, the security that showed in all his actions, his incredible reflexes, nerves of steel and personality. Undoubtedly one of the best Spanish players in history.

Ricardo Zamora was born in Barcelona in 1901, and began to play soccer when the sport took its first steps in Spain. His career began in 1916 when just 16 years joined RCD Español, club where he trained as a professional player and where he played his first games. In 1919, after a quarrel with the Español executives, joined rival club in the city, Barcelona. He was Barcelona player for three seasons and with the Catalans won his first title, a Spanish Cup.

In 1920 the Spanish football team went to the Olympic Games in Antwerp. In the first action of Spain as a football team in an official tournament, reached the silver medal after winning four matches and losing only the final, which was considered a success. After returning from Belgium, Zamora asked the president of Barcelona, Mr. Gamper, an increase in salary, a request which Barcelona did not accept. In 1922 he returned to Espanyol. Zamora's return to his home club was hatched after a spectacular signing that broke all economic records established.

However, Ricardo Zamora had to taste the sweetness of victory with his arrival at Real Madrid. In midsummer of 1930 the capital of Spain is a hotbed of rumors. Zamora joins Real Madrid. Zamora was basic piece at Real Madrid for the title in the 1931-32 season in a great championship, which the team finished undefeated. Would not be the only league title to win. In the following year he repeated luck with the revalidation of the League. Zamora's competition was once again a basic role in the victory. Zamora increase his record with Real Madrid with two Spanish Cups, achieved in 1934 and 1936 seasons.

On the latter, the last official match football to be played before the civil war that ravaged Spain for three years, was born the myth of Zamora, in a final that faced Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia. The white team won 2-1 and the player was paraded on the shoulders of the enthusiastic spectators fans.

During the Spanish Civil War, Zamora was arrested, being detained at the prison in Barcelona, although there were no known reasons. Finally, the Embassy of Argentina interceded for the release of the player. After his release, Zamora was exiled first to the country that helped rescue, and a year later in Nice (France), a city in which football club he met his friend Josep Samitier. He remained there until the end of the conflict, and retired from football.

As a coach, after the war, he joined Atletico. He coached this club for six seasons and won a league title in 1940-41. Subsequently he held the bench Celta Vigo, Malaga CD, RCD Espanyol and in 1952, for the Spanish National team. He was also coach of Venezuela in 1953. He died on September 8, 1978.

As a tribute to Zamora, the trophy awarded to the keeper with least goals conceded in the league, bears his name. If it had granted in his day, he would have won three times in the 1929/30 season with RCD Espanyol and those of 1931/32 and 1932/33 at Real Madrid.

OG: http://news-realmadrid-football.blogspot.com/2010/12/legends-luis-molowny.html

Legends: Luis Molowny
LUIS MOLOWNY


Luis Molowny

Luis Molowny Arbelo was born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, May 12, 1925 into a family with Irish ancestry. From young, he begins to play football in his hometown.

Player

At fifteen, he wants to test with Club Deportivo Tenerife, which had convened a screening test. Despite his request, was not invited to test. He attended the appointed day and stood behind the goal to return the balls that left the field for the bad aim of the players. His clever way to return the ball, made the technical drafted him.

Molowny is then signed by the Club Santa Cruz, in first regional division, where he could not play matches, because the minimum age to do that was 18 years. Only played friendly matches. Subsequently signed for Marino, where they won the Canary Islands Championship. At this point begins to awaken the interest of the big teams.

After the battle between Real Madrid and Barcelona, Luis Molowny end wearing the white jersey for 1946-47 season. His personal and sport adaptation was perfect. His debut comes at Metropolitan Stadium -Chamartin was under construction- against FC Barcelona. When it seemed that the tables would be the end result, Molowny pulled a magnificent and precise header which gave the win to Real Madrid.

He was a player of great precision in passing, clever and cool. Noted for its easy tricks, the temple in his ball controls and withering attacks, always topped with unstoppable shots.

Real Madrid played for eleven seasons, with players like Alfredo Di Stefano, Francisco Gento, Raymond Kopa and Ferenc Puskas. He won several titles and left the football with the appreciation of the Real Madrid fans. He played a year in Las Palmas, where he finally retired from active football.

Coach

After retiring as player, began a successful coaching career. From 1967 to 1970 he trained at UD Las Palmas, where he became runner-up league.


Luis Molowny Coach

And in 1974 he began his relationship with the club. Joins Real Madrid to replace Miguel Muñoz. Train the team for 5 months and get a Spanish Cup. He returned in September 1977 after Miljanic leaving the team, getting a Spanish League. Leads the team until June 1979. In 1982, he was named to lead the team for two months until the end of the season. In April 1985, following the resignation of Amancio Amaro, Molowny returned to take over the team. His management ended in April 1986, This would be his last involvement as coach of Real Madrid, winning a league title and UEFA Cup that season.

From there, he served as sports director of Real Madrid. His final retirement came in 1990 when he decided to reside in his native island. He died in February 2010

OG: http://news-realmadrid-football.blogspot.com/2011/01/legends-miguel-munoz.html

Legends: Miguel Muñoz
MIGUEL MUÑOZ



Miguel Muñoz
Player

His athletic career in football began in Madrid where he was born in 1922. There he played on different teams like Ferroviaria, the Girod and the Imperio and began to have his first contact with the ball. The year 1943 will mark his life. He had to go for Logroño, to complete military service. There, he played for the C.D. Logroñés, which drops to third division. The following year, in the 1943-44 season signed for Racing de Santander, where he remained until 1946, when he comes to Celta de Vigo. With this team played his first final (Spanish Cup).

Miguel Muñoz and Pahiño cap a great season, which ends with the two players wearing the white shirt of Real Madrid.That season is just getting third in the league. The team is going through a transition period with high-profile additions that are going to get that little by little the Club holds the leadership of Spanish football. His first league title gets it in the 1953-54 season.

In 1956 Miguel Munoz gets his name to go to a special place in international football history. On 13 June at the Parc des Princes will be the first player to receive theEuropean Cup being the captain of Real Madrid. The Muñoz, Di Stefano, Rial, Marquitos and company had managed to defeat the Stade Reims in his own field, opening the most brilliant period of Real Madrid.

Miguel Muñoz is part of the Real Madrid until the 1958-59 season. It is ten years in which he raises two European titles and two league championships. His withdrawal occurs with the arrival of new players to Real Madrid, and after raising his third European Cup. After hanging up his boots, Muñoz remains linked to the history of Real Madrid, first as coach of the Plus Ultra, and after the Real Madrid first team.

Coach

In the 1959-60 season took over as coach of Real Madrid and that same year he won the European Cup and became the first person to win as a player and coach. Coached Real Madrid for 13 years and six months in a total of 601 league games. During his years as coach, Real Madrid won 9 League, 2 Spanish Cup, 2 European Cups and 1 Intercontinental Cup.


Miguel Muñoz Coach

He is the coach who led Real Madrid more times, who has won more league titles with 9 in 21 seasons and the third coach with the most matches in the league, behind Luis Aragones and Javier Irureta.

In 1982, after the failure of the Spanish team in the World Cup, was named national team coach, heading to Spain in the 1986 World Cup and Euro 1984 (Spain was finalist) and 1988.

He died on July 16, 1990

OG: http://news-realmadrid-football.blogspot.com/2011/01/legends-raymond-kopa.html

Legends: Raymond Kopa
RAYMOND KOPA


Raymond Kopa

Raymond Kopaszewski, world famous for Kopa, born in Noeux-Les-Mines, a smallmining town in northern France, on 13 October 1931. The young Frenchman, of Polish descent, early showed his passion for football.

Just behind the family home was the field of the village's team, which entered the age of ten. After completing his primary education goes to work in a mine where he also did his father. Abandoning coal pits after an accident in which lost the index finger of his left hand went to Angers, in which, under the guidance of coach Camille Cottin, Kopa is devoted fully. After two years in Angers walking the trails of the Second Division in 1951 signed for Stade de Reims for a lot of money at the time (1.8 million francs).

During the five years he was in French team, the fabulous French right midfielder rose to fame for his outstanding balance; in 158 games he scored 48 goals so he was elected the third best player in Europe, behind the legendary Matthews and Di Stefano.

His first contact with the white jersey of Real Madrid came to occasion of the farewell tribute to Luis Molowny. There began the particular affair between Real Madrid and French start. Curiously, his arrival in Madrid came just hours after the June 13, 1956, when the white set defeated Stade Reims at the final of the first edition of the European Cup. Attracted by the play of Kopa, Real Madrid signed him to the French.

Kopa had to adapt to a new position in the right hand, but the intelligence was one of his many qualities and had no problem putting on No. 7 on the shirt, to Alfredo di Stefano continued to be the conductor of Real Madrid . Fast player, skillful and a great specialist in the passes and assists. A player of great elegance and talent he knew when to stop the game, hiding the ball as a teacher and was able to unbalance at the right time. With Real Madrid, won two Spanish leagues (1957 and 1958) and three European Cups (1957,1958 and 1959).

After a brilliant pass by Madrid, Kopa returned to Stade de Reims in 1959 where he won two league titles and where he remained until his retirement at the edge of the 36 years in 1966 when his team won the French D2.

OG: http://news-realmadrid-football.blogspot.com/2011/01/legends-francisco-gento.html

Legends: Francisco Gento
FRANCISCO GENTO


Paco Gento

Francisco Gento Lopez was born in Guarnizo, Cantabria, 21 October 1933. Son of a truck driver, left school at fourteen to help his father and take care of the cows they had on a small farm. As a child when he ran around Guarnizo, he dreamed of playing for Racing de Santander. Never thought his name would be a world football legend and he would be considered the best left midfielder of all time.

At that time he started playing football in the “Nueva Montaña” team, alternating with the athletic sport, where he purchased the speed that made him famous as a footballer. Shortly afterwards went to the “Astilleros”. In this team and with only fourteen years, scored nine times in a regional championship game, earning him a move to “Rayo Cantabria”. In 1953 amounted to Racing Santander, where his name became a national attraction. Alvaro Bustamante’s references, vice-president of Real Madrid who was born in the same province that Gento, served that season to sign for the white team for a period of five years. His early performances for the club were a disaster and a disappointment. Extremely fast and lacks a polished technique, raids ended, most of the time, outside the boundaries of the pitch, forgetting the ball that was left behind.

The arrival of Héctor Rial, a fine Argentine midfielder managed to temper the speed of Gento and make him profitable. Passes over 40 yards on the boot of the Cantabrian were finished in impressive gallops by the band in which he moved the ball a few yards and ran after him, overflowing with all that is put in front. Only stopped when he approached the line of lime which delimits the end of the field, then he took out his left leg and threw a measured center to the head of Di Stefano, Puskas or any other striker in that wonderful team.

Francisco Gento always noted for his impressive speed and prodigious dribbling that left sitting all his rivals. This made him the most dangerous left side of the moment. Not noted for his height, but became the world's fastest extreme. Nobody at the time had his speed. Also had a terrible and powerful shot on goal.

Honours

Francisco Gento's fame spreads far beyond Spanish. In Europe, Gento have been the only player in the world who played for fifteen consecutive years in the European Cup (Champions League), appearing in eight finals and achieving six titles, the last being perhaps the most emotional because he captained a young team, dubbed the "Ye-ye", composed by young Spanish players. This was the title that best taste left in Paco Gento.

Gento's track record like player is really impressive. During the eighteen years he played for Real Madrid, Gento won: 6 European Cups, 12 League titles, 2 Spanish Cups and 1 Intercontinental Cup, among other awards.

He wore the Spanish jersey 44 times and has long held the record for games played with the national team. Among the amenities that football has given him is to have played in two world championships. In 1963 he was selected by FIFA to make the team "Rest of the World" which faced the English at Wembley Stadium in London.

After retiring as an active player became coach. He managed Castilla, Castellón, Palencia, Granada and several teams from the inferior categories of the Real Madrid. Today, Gento is "Real Madrid ambassador in Europe", traveling in front of the first team, along with his inseparable friend and Honorary President of Real Madrid, Alfredo DiStefano, on European soil.

OG: http://news-realmadrid-football.blogspot.com/2011/02/legends-ferenc-puskas.html

Legends: Ferenc Puskas
FERENC PUSKAS


Ferenc Puskas

Ferenc Puskas Biro was born in Budapest on April 2, 1927. His real surname was Purczfeld, German origin, but he changed Puskas (gun in Hungarian) after the Second World War.

Son of a famous soccer player of Northern Hungary, started playing soccer when he was a ball boy in the field of Kispest club in Budapest. At ten he was playing at that club, and at 16 made his debut in the Hungarian First Division, commanded by a coach known to him: his father. His left leg combined strength and precision and had unlimited resources. He played in this club from 1943 to 1949 when it was renamed Honved, the Hungarian Army team, and Puskas remained in it until 1956, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel.

His career at this time was brilliant, especially in the Hungary selection. With the national team got the Olympic championship in Helsinki in 1952 and the historic 6-3 victory against England at Wembley (as captain) in December 1953. This national team was that dazzled the world at the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland, with players like Kocsis, Bozsik, Czibor or Hidegkuti, besides Puskas, getting second place in the world cup (after unexpectedly losing the final against Germany). This team was known as the "Magical Magyars".

His life changed the November 4, 1956, when the USSR invaded Hungary. On the way to Bilbao with his team, Honved, in the city of Vienna, Puskas and other partners as Czibor or Kocsis, deserted because of the invasion, earning a punishment of two years by FIFA. He left behind a balance of 349 league games with 358 goals, more than a goal per game.

Ferenc Puskas lived in several countries in Europe and South America until he was signed by Real Madrid, rejecting offers from several clubs in Italy. Thus, thirty-one years old he became Real Madrid player, completing the group was already legendary; Alfredo Di Stefano, Kopa, Rial, Santamaría, Gento, Dominguez ... It was quite a surprise to the Spanish fans, it was thought that a man like Puskas, at that time about to turn thirty-two years and overweight, had nothing to do at a team like Real Madrid, in full stars. But the time put everything in place and soon won the support and the sympathy of the fans, becoming "Pancho " Puskas.

During his first season in Spain had some adjustment problems resulting from his difficulties with the language and his long inactivity, but in his second year began to show signs of quality. Goals and more goals. A match for the story was when he participated in the fifth win for Real Madrid in the European Cup, this time playing the final at Hampden Park in Glasgow against Eintrach Frankfurt, which was defeated 7-3, with four Puskas' goals.




In the following five editions of Spanish League, Real Madrid won the titles, being Puskas the "Pichichi" in the seasons 60/61, 62/63 and 63/64, and winning the Spanish Cup in 1962. Later in1966, Real Madrid returned to win the European Cup, but Puskas did not play the final, as he did in his last season in white (1966/67) in which he only played friendlies.

With the fall of communism, in September 1992 he set residence in Hungary and incorporated in technical tasks of his national team. Ferenc Puskas died on November 17, 2006 in Budapest because of pneumonia. A few years before the death of this legendary player, in his honor, the National Stadium in Hungary changed its name to the Ferenc Puskas Stadium.

A legendary figure in world football, is considered one of the best players in history. He was elected by FIFA 'Top scorer' of the twentieth century in 2004 and ranks 6th in the ranking of the Best footballer of the twentieth century, published by IFFHS in 2004.

OG: http://news-realmadrid-football.blogspot.com/2011/05/legends-alfredo-di-stefano.html

Legends: Alfredo Di Stefano
ALFREDO DI STEFANO


Alfredo Di Stefano

Alfredo Di Stefano was born on July 4, 1926 in the neighborhood of Barracas, where was the port of Buenos Aires. There, the English sailors introduced the football in Argentina. His grandfather Miguel was the first Di Stefano who arrived in the country, from Capri (Italy). His father, Alfredo, married Eulalia Laulhé who had French and Irish origin. They had three childs; Alfredo, Tulio (left midfielder footballer) and Norma (she was a basketball player).

"Little Tow" (Estopita: His grandfather placed him this nickname due to the old yellow mops that were used on ships) grew up playing with neighborhood kids on vacant lands in "the academy of the street", with rubber balls that cost two cents. His first organized team was called "Unidos y Venceremos", before moving to the "Flores" neighborhood, where he played for "Imán".

In 1940, his family moved to "Los Cardales", in the outskirts of Buenos Aires. His father was a collector of cereals and worked in the field. Alfredo left school and began working to help the family finances. That would have been his future if he had not followed the footsteps of football, a flame which, fortunately, was installed in his heart deeply. Football was his irrepressible passion. On Sunday he played with his brother Tulio in a local league and in the afternoon he went with his father to see River Plate (he was member from seven years). His amazing play and talent did not go unnoticed. In 1944 he made a test for River Plate and was quickly accepted in the youth team.

Player

He began with 18 years in the fourth category, from there ascended to the third and then to the First Division. Debuted with River in 1945 and that season he only played one match. For the 1946 season he was loaned to Huracan. There his coaches knew that they had an exceptional player. In 1947 he returned to River, in which he won the League Championship and was proclaimed top scorer. That year he debuted with the Argentina National Team that won the South American Championship in Guayaquil (Ecuador), in which he scored six goals. Soon he was dubbed with the nickname of "Blond Arrow" (LaSaeta Rubia) by the explosive speed that impressed on his play. In the Argentine Championship he played 66 games and scored 49 goals.

A general strike paralyzed the Argentine football and Di Stefano joined the "Millonarios" of Bogota, the best team in Colombia. It was a truly global selection, where coincided with major players like Rossi, Baez or Pederson. The sporting success of this 'Blue Ballet' pierced borders. This team played 294 matches and scored 267 goals. In 1952, he played for the first time in Spain (Chamartin Stadum), during the tournament to commemorate the 50 Anniversary of the Real Madrid. That day Real Madrid fans fell in love with him.

Real Madrid's dream was fulfilled in 1953 when Real Madrid managed to sign the best player of the moment after a long dispute with Barcelona that was also bidding for his services. He debuted on September 23, 1953 against Nancy (France). It was the first of the 510 matches played with Real Madrid scoring 418 goals. With the white set he won 8 Leagues, 5 European Cups, 1 Spanish Cup and 1 Intercontinental Cup among many other titles. In addition, he won five times the Pichichi trophy in seasons; 1953/54, 1955/56, 1956/57, 1957/58 and 1958/59.


Alfredo Di Stefano with 5 European Cups

That Real Madrid has gone down in history as one of the best teams of all time. In its brand new stadium, Santiago Bernabéu brought together a generation of unrepeatable footballers: Gento, Rial, Kopa, Puskas, Santamaria, Juanito Alonso, Zárraga... and Di Stefano, considered by all the squad as the natural leader, although he rejected the praise. He was a complete player, a role model on and off the pitch. UEFA awarded him the Golden Ball in 1957 and 1959.

He was captain of the "Rest of the World" team in the centenary of the English Football Association (1963). His last official match with Real Madrid was on May 27, 1964 in the Prater Stadium (Vienna) in the final of the ninth European Cup. After two seasons in the RCD Espanyol, he finally left the football with a tribute match that faced Real Madrid and Celtic Glasgow in 1966. That night took off his captain's armband to give it to Grosso in the middle of the roar of the crowd, standing to say goodbye to the best player who has stepped on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.


Alfredo Di Stefano (1982)

Coach

In March 1982, sixteen years after his farewell in the Bernabeu, Di Stefano signed as coach of Real Madrid (Luis de Carlos was the president). After the World Cup was presented on July 20, 1982 along with his assistant Juan Santisteban and Jesus Paredes. "I will give the team moral, strength and mastery", he said in his message to the fans. It was a year of records, although bittersweet, because Di Stefano led the team to five finals and was runner-up in five. The team lost the League (Athletic Bilbao), the Cup Winners Cup (Aberdeen), the Spanish Cup (Barcelona), the League Cup (Barcelona) and the Spanish Super Cup (Real Sociedad).

The following season he returned to coach the team. He always opted for the younger players and had players like Butragueño, Sanchis, Martin Vazquez and Pardeza. It was the seed of a team that amazed Europe in the second half of the decade. But the rush of football and the lack of titles led to the exit of Di Stefano, who gave way to Amancio Amaro. "The doors of the Club are always open for you", Luis de Carlos recalled him in the farewell.

Six years later, on November 21, 1990, he returned temporarily to the white bench, along with Grosso and Camacho. At that time he was presidential adviser, and coached because the club had fired Toshack. In just a few months he changed the face of the team and its commitment to an offensive football was rewarded with the Spanish Super Cup, won against Barcelona. Months later, he left his post to Radomir Antic.

Di Stefano also coached Elche (1967), Boca Juniors (1968), Rayo Vallecano (1975),Castellón (1976), River Plate (1981) and Valencia (three times). In all these teams left the stamp of his competitive nature, love for his work and winning spirit. In all teams is respected and still loved. Under his discipline played hundreds of footballers that still have his lessons in the memory as their greatest asset.

Since 2000, Alfredo di Stefano is honorary president of Real Madrid and now "lives" the club with the same passion and commitment that the first day. His door is always open. His voice is still the beacon that lights to Real Madrid on the way to the title of best team in the XXI century.

OG: http://news-realmadrid-football.blogspot.com/2011/06/legends-amancio-amaro.html

Legends: Amancio Amaro
AMANCIO AMARO


Amancio Amaro

Amancio Amaro was born in La Coruña, October 16, 1939. From his childhood he liked kicking the ball as an offensive player. That is, that Amancio preferred scoring goals rather than avoid, dribbling with the ball at his feet, treating the ball with care as opposed to his rivals who liked more to strike the opponent's legs that ball. In short, Amancio played in the right side with skill and speed and was astonishing both friends and strangers.

Player

At fifteen years old, he moved to team Victoria, of his hometown, and in the 1958-59 season he joined Deportivo de La Coruna, by then in the Second Division of Spanish football. Amancio was promoted to First Division with Deportivo. That is when begin to hear the first rumors of signing. The seats of Riazor begin to fill with scouts from different major teams, including Real Madrid.

Amancio's signing for Real Madrid was not about to take place. The astronomical salary, 10 million pesetas ( 60,000 euros), was filed as a slab on the wishes of the player to sign with the white team. Real Madrid's delegates called on the president Bernabeu, who was on holiday in Santa Pola, to inform him of the unviable operation. Bernabéu asked them to reconvene and meditate again, but at the end of the talks the situation had not changed. They informed again Don Santiago, who emphatically declared: "Amancio will play for Real Madrid: Sign him". Again, the Bernabeu's intuitive instinct was right.

Amancio signed for Real Madrid in June 1962. That same year, also arrives Zoco, Muller and Yanko Daucik. Amancio is no stranger to the stage of transition that is experiencing Real Madrid. Years ago, the team had swept both inside and outside of Spain, winning the first five European Cups. Amancio debuted in European competition against Anderlecht (3-3 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium). In League, he played the first match in Sevilla, against Real Betis, with a favorable outcome to the whites by 5-2 (Amancio socred one of the goals). The success came quickly. In his first seven seasons with Real Madrid, won six Leagues and later would add three more to reach nine titles in his 14 seasons in Madrid.

But in Europe luck is more elusive. In 1964, Amancio suffers a major sport disappointment in his first European final. The Viennese Prater was the scene of the Real Madrid's defeat against Inter Milan.. Italian team showed on the pitch conjunction and quality. A year later, in 1965, Benfica, removed the whites of European competitions. In 1966, Real Madrid faced the ninth European Cup with renewed hopes. Madrid team has undergone a profound transformation. Miguel Munoz is the new coach and has incorporated some young players of great renown, but all responsibility fell on "The Wizard" (Amancio's nickname).

Brussels, is decked out to welcome the finalists of the European Cup, Real Madrid and Partizan. Heysel Stadium is the perfect setting in which Real Madrid will try to rejuvenate old laurels, and the Yugoslavs put his name along to the major teams in Europe. On May 11, 1966 is the appointed day. Vasovic scored first for Partizan, but Amancio tied the matchwith a goal in a wonderful play. Then, Serena scored with a stunning shot from 30 meters. That was when the young "ye-yes" realized that they could be champions of Europe and left the skin on the field. Final score: 2-1. Amancio had managed to win a European Cup.

With the Spanish team, Amancio played 42 times. In these games the Real Madrid player got eleven goals and was a participant in the greatest achievement in the history of Spain's national team until that time: the victory in the final of Euro 1964 (2-1) against the Soviet Union.


Amancio Amaro

Coach

Amancio belonged to the template of Real Madrid until the 1975-76 season in which he left permanently football as a player and started a new era on the bench. In 1982, is signed by Luis de Carlos to coach Real Madrid Castilla, team with which conquered the Second Division Championship in his second season. He coached Butragueño, Michel, Sanchis Jr., Martin Vazquez and Pardeza. In the 1985/86 season took over the first team. The results were not good and Amancio left the team.

Since then, he was part of Real Madrid as scout and as board member on the first stage of Florentino Perez. He definitely left the club in 2006.

Please Look at the Opening Post... I have edited this post into that because it made more sense to have the History of the Club first.

Thanks...

OG: http://news-realmadrid-football.blogspot.com/2011/09/legends-jose-martinez-pirri.html

Legends: Jose Martinez 'Pirri'
JOSE MARTINEZ 'PIRRI'


Jose Martinez Sanchez "Pirri"

Jose Martinez Sanchez, known by his nickname 'Pirri', was born in Ceuta in 1945 and began playing football in the teams; Imperio Riffien, Sociedad Deportiva Ceuta and Atletico Ceuta, highlighting in in all these teams in which he played. While giving his first steps into the world of football was studying at the Augustinians of Ceuta.

At 18 he moved to Granada to continue his studies. There he joins the local team, the Granada CF, where he begins making a name in Spanish football. In season 1963-64, "Pirri" is called to play in the Spanish selection of fans for his great performances in Granada. He plays on the right wing as midfielder.

Real Madrid was living a time of change. The team was veteran and needed updating. Men such as Alfredo Di Stefano, are replaced by Grosso, came Mogollon and Sancho, De Felipe joined the team after have been on loan at Rayo Vallecano... Jose Martinez "Pirri", joined the Whites in 1964, and had the difficult mission to replace Ferenc Puskas.

Began that season the famous team of "Ye-ye", consisting of eleven Spanish players led by Francisco Gento. In his first year in white, "Pirri" won the first of the ten Leagues he would win in his time as a player for Real Madrid. From midfield to defense, to end up as free defender. His efforts made ​​him one of the legendary players of Real Madrid, being the sixth player in team history that more often has worn the white jersey in the Spanish League (417).

Without doubt, two events marked the sporting history of "Pirri". In 1966, Real Madrid was one of the youngest teams in Europe, and despite his inexperience, won the continental title in a very emotional final played at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, against Partizan Belgrade.

Five years later, "Pirri" lived one of the saddest chapters of his sporting life, during the final of the Cup Winners' Cup 1971, lost against Chelsea. "Pirri" was injured during the first match, which ended in a draw, and went down in history for having played the game with his arm in a sling for a broken collarbone. They had to play a match tiebreaker and the title was won by the English. The image of "Pirri" with his arm close to his body, under the white shirt is one of the images that will go down in football history. Four years later, in 1975 he played a Spanish Cup final, against FC Barcelona, with his jaw broken. Therefore he was awarded by the Real Madrid with the first 'Laureada', the most important badge of the club that was given him by then club president Don Santiago Bernabeu.

Midfielder, defender, makeshift striker. If something was characteristic in "Pirri" was his versatility. His quality and strength combined perfectly with the claw and the anger that showed on the pitch. In addition to his defensive qualities, "Pirri" was a scorer, achieving 170 goals in his sixteen seasons with the shirt of Real Madrid (561 matches).

In 1980 he moved to FC Puebla Mexico, where he played his final two seasons and finished his Medicine studies. Back in Spain, he joined the Real Madrid medical staff and then his coach team. In 2000 he was general manager of Real Madrid, leaving the position with the arrival of Jorge Valdano in September of that year.

Pirri – The Real Hippy Who Inadvertently Ushered In the Galactico Era
By Ste | September 22, 2011 (og can be found here: http://www.thedaisycutter.co.uk/2011/09/pirri-the-real-hippy-who-inadvertently-ushered-in-the-galactico-era/)

When you think of Real Madrid’s glittering past its impossible not to conjure up a grainy image of their famous 7-3 destruction of Frankfurt in 1960 with the great Di Stefano and Puskás astounding a packed Hampden crowd – and the watching world – with their new level of footballing brilliance.
Perhaps it’s equally inevitable to recall earlier days of Franco, when the club was very much a part of the social establishment under a fascist regime. The resentment born from this persists – in some quarters at least – to this very day as Real continue to be viewed as an elitist, favoured institution.
It’s perhaps easy to overlook that, despite their domestic and European dominance continuing unabated throughout the ensuing decades as glories were achieved with their trademark arrogant style, something rather wonderful occurred in Madrid during the swinging sixties. Real got a little funky and hip.
As Beatle-mania spread across the world a counter-culture quickly grew influencing even the priggish grandeur of the Spanish capital. The fantastically-talented youngsters all coming through in Di Stefano’s giant shadow were not immune and as the legends were gradually sent out to pasture at lesser clubs or returned to their homelands Real suddenly found themselves with an entire team made up of Spanish nationals all of whom possessed a sumptuous array of talents and shaggy beatnik hair.
The hippies hadn’t just taken over Plaza Mayor and the other city landmarks; they were on the Bernabeu pitch storming to nine La Liga titles and adding a further European Cup to the astonishing five their esteemed predecessors had won with such panache. Around the country a distrusting older generation termed anyone under the age of thirty who had anything but a short-back-and-sides a ‘Yé-yé’ mimicking the chorus to She Loves You. As the likes of Pachin, Zoco and Serena began to accumulate trophies and headlines they too were given the moniker which truly stuck when four of them posed for a famous photographer dressed as John, Paul, George and Ringo. The Yé-yé team has since gone down in folklore and legend becoming the first team to conquer Europe with solely native players, beating Celtic by one year. And all with modern free-and-easy hipster values that contrasted greatly to the shady patronage of royalty and dictators of sullied times past.
Even his demeanour was contrary – possessing the footballing elegance of the Royal Palace with the appearance of a bedsit squatter.
The Yé-yé team of the 1960s was led, perhaps appropriately, by a left winger. Real’s captain Francisco Gento provided a link with their recent magnificent side having played alongside Di Stefano and Puskás throughout their rise to world acclaim and a breathtaking haul of silverware. The sublime Gento was now at the height of his extraordinary powers, blazing a trail down the left flank with his blistering pace that gained him the nickname La Galerna del Cantábrico (The Storm of Cantabrian) and revelling in the responsibility of harnessing the potential of his new team of greats free from the insecure intimidation of the ever-demanding Di Stefano. To this day nobody has matched his incredible record of six European Cup winner’s medals. After Maldini retired on five it’s extremely doubtful anyone ever will.
Though Gento is widely, and rightfully, considered an all-time legend of the sport his colleague José Martínez Sánchez was just as influential to Real’s immense success. Better known as Pirri this all-round class act possessed such grace and artistry it’s impossible to pin him down to simply one position. He was a stylish libero who scored one-in-four in a career that spanned sixteen years at the very top. He was a box-to-box explorer. A deep-lying anchorman. Even his demeanour was contrary – possessing the footballing elegance of the Royal Palace with the appearance of a bedsit squatter. From the moment he first appeared as a substitute against Barcelona in ’64 – appropriately enough coming on for an ageing Puskás who may as well have handed him a flame – Pirri established himself a master of effortless guile. So superior was he to those around him everything just looked so easy. His face was never anything other than stern but his hair, his laid-back manner, and the era from which he was spawned forever marked him out as a hippy yé-yé.
He hadn’t exactly held back in his assessments of each player, scornfully condemning 19 of the 33 players.
So how did this product of the flower-child generation bring on the uber-capitalist era of the galacticos? Well, as you’d expect, by accident.
After 571 appearances for Madrid Pirri wound down his illustrious career in Mexico where he finished his medical studies to become a qualified doctor. Soon after he returned home to join the medical team at Real before eventually assuming the role of general manager, sometimes known as sporting director. Working under – or above, depending on your interpretation of such a position – a succession of head coaches including Hiddink, Toshack and Vincente del Bosque Pirri was opinionated and forthright and it was these traits that proved to be his downfall. In early 2000 he set about compiling a report on every member of the club’s 33-man squad. Pirri to this day insists that the only people who clapped eyes on this confidential document were the two individuals it was intended for. Unfortunately the political chicanery involved in the race to become president at Real rivals that for the White House and around this time there was a fierce battle erupting between the incumbent Lorenzo Sanz and the infamously ambitious Florentino Perez.
Perez’ campaign for public support and election was built on his promise of purchasing a plethora of superstars – galaticos – to make Los Blancas great once again and topple perennial rivals Barca.
In August 2000, months after he had written it, Pirri’s report was leaked to the Diaro As newspaper and its contents immediately prompted widespread shock and scandal that blew the club apart.
He hadn’t exactly held back in his assessments of each player, scornfully condemning 19 of the 33 players. Guti’s behaviour was deemed ‘not typical of a Real Madrid player’ and had a ‘poor attitude on and off the pitch’. ‘Should we get a good offer we should sell him’ Pirri concluded.
Anelka was ‘having problems with other players in the team. Will be very difficult for him to succeed in Madrid and he will create many problems. It is best to sell him as soon as possible’.
Morientes was ‘Suffering poor form and confidence so we should try to sell him quickly’
Geremi was ‘technically very limited’ and occupied ‘alien space’.
McManaman was deemed ‘profitable’ and another player to be off-loaded.
Rather wonderfully the translation of the original report accuses Karembau of ‘trespassing’ when really it is Pirri simply passing on the option of retaining his services.
Enter stage left Perez pouring oil on troubled waters that he may, or may not have stirred up in the first place.
Though some were highly praised – in particular reserve keeper Casillas, Redondo, Campo (‘an interesting player’) and Roberto Carlos who is described as ‘irreplaceable’ – the fall-out from the report created a huge amount of disharmony amongst the disgruntled playing staff. Guti scathingly announced the leak was a ‘botch’ and demanded trust from his employers or he was off.
Enter stage left Perez pouring oil on troubled waters that he may, or may not have stirred up in the first place. Following his now inevitable election victory the new president wasted no time in dispensing with Pirri and replacing him with his own man, Jorge Valdano. A mere matter of weeks later came the first in a succession of marquee signings with probably the most controversial of all, Luis Figo from Barcelona. The era of the galacticos was upon us, an ethos based on aggressive capitalism in its purest form. On buying rather than building. On money over class.
The exiled ex-yé-yé Pirri was presumably aghast.

The years that followed have mercifully been kind to Pirri. His detailed assessments of each player was viewed, with hindsight, to be mostly astute and correct. It was he who argued that Raul should be Real’s totem; that Casillas had the ability to be entrusted with a first team place despite his young years at the expense of established number one Illgner; that Karenbau was indeed trespassing. His vindication brought even further respect for his expertise and he now works in the media as a pundit and analyst. He also became the first player or staff member in the clubs history to be honoured with Real Madrid’s prestigious ‘Laureate’ award. Ahead of Di Stefano. Ahead of Puskas. Ahead of modern greats such as Hugo Sanchez or Zidane.
That’s one thing we can all agree on with Real Madrid no matter your views on their murky history or Mourinho’s rants….those in power may act appallingly on occasion but they always know a class act when they see one.

zidane zidan

Messi

One of the most iconic scene to ever happen at the Bernabeu. Juanito being substituted during the final minutes in a European Cup game where he led us to a epic comeback.

(Disappointing but Wiki/Facebook currently have the best RC3 bios, so here it is... Watch this space, I'll find more/better articles.)

Roberto Carlos da Silva (born 10 April 1973 in Garça, São Paulo, Brazil), more commonly known simply as Roberto Carlos, is aBrazilian footballer who currently plays as a left wingback for Russian Premier League club Anzhi Makhachkala, where he is also club captain. He started playing for Brazil in 1992 and was a member of the Brazil national team in three World Cups, helping the team reach the final in 1998 and win the 2002 tournament. He is also known for his trademark free kicks with powerful speed.
He previously played for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid for 11 years, making over 500 appearances and winning four leagues, threeUEFA Champions League trophies, and two Intercontinental Cups. Roberto Carlos is also one of only fifteen players to have played more than 100 matches in the Champions League. He finished second to countryman Ronaldo in the 1997 FIFA World Player of the Year award poll and was named as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers by Pelé in March 2004.

União São João
Roberto Carlos began his professional career playing for União São João, a football club based in Araras (São Paulo state). Despite playing at what was seen as a lesser club, he was called up for the Brazil national football team.

Palmeiras
At Palmeiras, Roberto Carlos was recognized as one of the greats of Brazilian football of all time, winning two consecutive Brazilian Leagues

Internazionale
After almost signing for Bryan Robson's Middlesbrough side in 1995, Roberto Carlos chose a move to F.C. Internazionale Milano, in the Serie A, playing one season for the Nerazzurri. He scored a 30 yard free-kick on his debut vs Vicenza. Javier Zanetti also made his debut in this game alongside former England international Paul Ince.The then-coach of Inter, Roy Hodgson, wanted him to play as a left winger, but Carlos preferred to play only as a left back.

Real Madrid
Roberto Carlos played at Real Madrid for 11 seasons, playing a total of 584 matches and scoring 71 goals in all competitions. 370 of them were league matches, in which he scored 46 goals from his left-back position. He famously set up Zinedine Zidane to score the winner for Real Madrid to win the Champions League in 2002. His consistently high standard and dynamic displays saw him voted into the uefa.com users' UEFA Team of the Year in 2002 and 2003.
On 2 August 2005, he received dual Spanish and Brazilian citizenship. This proved important for Real Madrid, as it meant that he now counted as a European Union player. In January 2006, he set a club record for the most league matches played by a non-Spanish born player by making his 330th appearance for Madrid. He broke the previous mark of 329 held byAlfredo di Stéfano.
Having played 30 or more league matches for ten consecutive seasons and being one of the most consistent players in the squad, he was heavily criticized for conceding the ball early during the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against Bayern Munich, which led to Roy Makaay's goal, the quickest goal in the tournament's history. On 9 March 2007, he announced his decision to not renew his contract with Real Madrid. In the dying seconds of one of the last few games of the season against Recreativo de Huelva, Fernando Gago played a beautiful pass and Roberto Carlos slotted it home. As a result, Real Madrid were on course for their 30th La Liga championship. He was linked with a move to Chelsea in the summer of 2006.

Fenerbahçe
On 19 June 2007, Roberto Carlos signed a two-year contract and one year optional with the Turkish Super League champions Fenerbahçe at the stadium in front of thousands of fans. In the first official match he played with the team, Fenerbahçe won the Turkish Super Cup against Beşiktaş by a score of two goals to one. During a league match againstSivasspor, he scored his first goal for Fenerbahçe on 25 August 2007 on a diving header, which was only the third headed goal of his career.
He was injured during the final period of the same season and missed the title race between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray. His team eventually lost the title to their rivals, while guaranteeing a place for themselves in Champions League knockouts for the next season. He announced that he was unhappy about the final result and would do his best to carry the domestic trophy back to the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium.
On 7 October 2009 Roberto Carlos announced that he would leave Fenerbahçe upon the expiration of his contract in December 2009. He offered to return to Real Madrid and play for free, though he also said return to the Brazilian domestic leagues was a possibility and announced on 25 November 2009 his departure.
He played in his last match for the Turkish club when he came on in the 89th minute as a substitute against Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League on 17 December 2009. Team-mates gave Carlos a goodbye shower after the match as Fenerbahçe fans chanted "I love you Carlos," giving him a standing ovation.

Greatest free-kick was no fluke: Roberto Carlos' 1997 'freak' goal explained by scientists
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


Football legend Roberto Carlos' famous banana free-kick was not a fluke, say scientists.
The goal - considered by some pundits as the best free-kick ever - scored during a tournament in France thirteen years ago was so outrageous many fans have questioned whether he really meant it.
But physicists have finally laid the argument to rest by computing the trajectory and deciding it was all down to a phenomenon known as the 'spinning ball spiral'.


Roberto Carlos takes his incredible free kick against France which swerved viciously to end in the net

This allowed the ball to divert inside the post at the last moment and bamboozle motionless French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.
Professors Christophe Clanet and David Quere said: 'When shot from a large enough distance, and with enough power to keep an appreciable velocity as approaching the goal, the ball can have an unexpected trajectory.
'Carlos' kick started with a classical circular trajectory but suddenly bent in a spectacular way and came back to the goal, although it looked out of the target a small moment earlier.
'People often noticed that Carlos' free kick had been shot from a remarkably long distance; we show in our paper that this is not a coincidence, but a necessary condition for generating a spiral trajectory.'
The Brazilian left back was playing in 1997's Tournoi de France - a year before France won the World Cup - when he placed the ball about 35 metres from his opponents' goal and slightly to the right.
Carlos hit the ball so far to the right that it initially cleared the wall of defenders by at least a metre and made a ball-boy standing ten metres from the goal duck his head.


A graphic which shows the vicious 'spiralling' swerve imparted on the ball by Brazilian full-back Roberto Carlos

Then, almost magically, the ball suddenly swept to the left and entered the top right-hand corner of the goal - to the amazement of players, the goalkeeper and the media alike.
Apparently, Carlos practised this kick all the time on the training ground. He intuitively knew how to curve the ball by hitting it at a particular velocity and with a particular spin.
He probably did not, however, know the physics behind it all which Prof Clanet and Prof Quere at the Polytechnic School in Palaiseau Cedex near Paris have unravelled for the first time.
Prof Clanet said: 'It was a freak free kick but it wasn't a fluke. For it to come off Carlos had to hit the ball at a high velocity - about 130km an hour - and from a distance of about 35 metres.
'The ball trajectory can deviate significantly provided the shot is long enough. Then the trajectory becomes surprising and somehow unpredictable for a goalkeeper.
'Roberto Carlos' free kick was shot from a distance for which we expect this kind of unexpected trajectory.
Provided that the shot is powerful enough, another characteristic of his abilities, the ball trajectory brutally bends towards the net, at a velocity still large enough to surprise the keeper.'

Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos retired from international football in 2006
Using tiny plastic balls and a slingshot, the researchers varied the velocity and spin of balls travelling through water to trace different trajectories.
This allowed them to study the aerodynamics of the balls without having to account for gravity and perform their experiments in a small tank instead of a large field.
While the study quickly confirmed the long-known 'Magnus effect', which gives a spinning ball a curved trajectory, it also revealed fresh insight for spinning balls that are shot over a distance equivalent to Carlos' free kick.
The researchers said the friction exerted on a ball by its surrounding atmosphere slows it down enough for the spin to take on a greater role in directing the ball's trajectory.
This allowed the last moment change in direction - which in the case of Carlos' kick left Barthez defenceless, according to the findings published in the New Journal of Physics.
Prof Clanet and Prof Quere called their discovery the 'spinning ball spiral' after comparing the effects of Carlos' effort with the shorter-distance 'circular' free kicks of specialists like David Beckham and Michel Platini.
Prof Clanet said: 'If he had not hit it so hard then gravity would have stopped it from taking the path it did. And he would have not have been able to curve it in such a way if he had been nearer the goal. That is why you never see penalty kicks swerve.



OG Link : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1308303/Greatest-free-kick-fluke-Roberto-Carlos-1997-freak-goal-explained-scientists.html#ixzz1fHv7nd6S

I miss Roberto so much

Why has this been unsticky'ed? It gets a reasonable amount of views and even if I'm biased I think it's quite constructive...

RealmadridBernabeu wrote:Messi

:lol!: at this posters time on the forum

Serious work done in this thread Shamirr

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIqTFMQTy0w&feature=autoplay&list=LLvozJ7nr9KZDHRqDbPKBkdQ&lf=mh_lolz&playnext=1 Please watch my Ronaldo vs sevilla 2011 - 2012 (edited)

my my

RealGunner wrote:my my

RAUUUUUUUUUL

I recall that i saw a thread about Don Santiago and Franco. How their relationship really was.

Anyone got the link?

Hey guys I've edited the OP to make it easier to read, give it a look...

Real Madrid have allocated shirt numbers for the 2012/13 season in which they will defend their league title. They are as follows:

FULL LIST OF SHIRT NUMBERS
1.- I. Casillas
2.- Varane
3.- Pepe
4.- Sergio Ramos
5.- F. Coentrão
6.- Khedira
7.- Ronaldo
8.- Kaká
9.- Benzema
10.- Özil
11.- Granero
12.- Marcelo
13.- Adán
14.- Alonso
16.- Carvalho
17.- Arbeloa
18.- R. Albiol
19.- Luka Modrić
20.- Higuaín
21.- Callejón
22.- Di María
24.- Lass
29.- Morata
35.- Jesús Fdez